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Love Can Improve Your Sleep, According to Science

couple sleeping

Being in a healthy relationship benefits and does wonders for your body.

It fills you with happy hormones, inspires you to get up in the morning, and also helps you sleep better.

Better sleep is perhaps one of the better benefits of love.

When you have good sleep, many other good things follow. You are able to focus better, your bowel movement is better regulated, and you are less likely to have common illnesses such as coughs or colds.

While not all benefits are obvious, the overall good that love does for your health and well-being is undeniable.

There are numerous research articles that point to the fact that love can indeed improve your sleep quality.

What the Research Says

Research conducted by the University of Turkey with over 700 participants found that they slept better when they felt loved by their partners. In addition, they were less likely to be prone to anxiety or depression.

When you're in a happy and healthy relationship, your body releases love and happy hormones. This in turn helps ward off any stress hormones that can affect your mental health.

When your mental well-being is compromised, your body suffers the consequences.

A researcher from the Center for Integrative Psychiatry found that couples who slept side by side are likely to experience rapid-eye-movement sleep. This is one of the healthy relationship benefits your body may experience.

REM sleep plays a significant role in improving your brain activity. It helps improve your memory, your nervous system functions, and your mood regulation. So when you wake up, you feel refreshed and energized.

But not sleeping side by side with your partner doesn’t automatically mean you are less likely to experience good sleep. Your sleeping may be affected by other factors such as insomnia or clinical depression.

You’ll have to take into consideration any underlying conditions you have that may affect your sleep. After all, your relationship status isn’t the sole basis to determine your sleeping activity.

Sleeping after Physical Intimacy

According to a 2016 research done at the University of Ottawa, engaging in sexual activity before sleep can help improve your sleep. This is even considered a possible method to help insomniacs regulate their sleep.

During sex, your brain releases several hormones such as endorphins and oxytocin. These hormones help you fall into a deep sleep that can help you get fully recharged, even more so when you climax afterward.

In a 2017 study conducted by CQUniversity in Australia, researchers have found that “more than 60 percent of 282 adults studied reported having slept better after having sex that led to climax.”

Women get an increase in estrogen levels during the afterglow, which can enhance REM sleep. Men, on the other hand, are induced with prolactin, which can make them drowsy after physical activity.

At this point, the message is clear that if you want to improve your overall well-being, you need a regular good night’s sleep. Along with eating balanced meals and avoiding stress, try getting as much TLC from your significant other before hitting the sack.

This story was originally published in Medium: Love Can Improve Your Sleep, According to Science